(Sept. 22, 2010)--The University of Texas at San Antonio announced today its College of Sciences will receive a five-year, $12 million Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) grant from the National Institutes of Health to strengthen UTSA basic and applied health research. The funding is one of the largest NIH grants the university has received in its 41-year history.

Over the long term, program administrators believe the new grant will propel UTSA research to groundbreaking progress regarding health disparities, the differing rates diseases occur in various populations.

"This NIH grant is a remarkable achievement for our College of Sciences and the RCMI team of researchers at UTSA," said President Ricardo Romo. "This funding will give us the ability to add new laboratories and acquire the latest scientific equipment so we can continue to advance our ability to improve lives with better health."

"Through the generous support of the National Center for Research Resources at the NIH, we are investing in infrastructure that will serve our researchers well many years into the future," said Andrew Tsin, RCMI program director. "It is our hope that these tools will help us understand the mystery of why some diseases like diabetes and obesity affect certain populations more than others."

The RCMI program has existed for a decade and is a critical component of UTSA's progress toward Tier One research status. The program has helped the university transform strong scientific areas into competitive health research programs. The new funding will support UTSA's evolution to premier research status by expanding resources and infrastructure as outlined in the UTSA strategic plan.

The RCMI grant will fund faculty members whose research has great relevance to human health. Additionally, it will provide funding for advanced scientific equipment and four staffed laboratory facilities to house the equipment. Those facilities include the new Nanotechnology and Human Health Laboratory, where researchers will synthesize nanomaterials for diagnostics, drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering and electron microscopy; the enhanced Protein Biomarkers Laboratory, where scientists will identify and study protein biomarkers for disease diagnosis and targeted therapy including biomarkers specific to minority populations; the Biophotonics Laboratory, where researchers will study biological processes at the molecular level in live cells with exceptional detail; and the Computational Systems Biology Laboratory, where researchers will simulate biological systems, live-cell imaging and protein biomarker research using high-performance computing infrastructure.

>> Learn more about the equipment in each facility at UTSA's RCMI website.

UTSA's RCMI program is one of only 18 RCMI programs at universities across the nation. The University of Texas at San Antonio is one of the fastest growing higher education institutions in Texas and one of nine academic universities and six health institutions in the UT System. As a multicultural institution, UTSA aims to be a national research university providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

Did You Know?

UTSA researcher is a star behind the cloud

A revolution in cloud computing is underway, and Ravi Sandhu believes it will be much bigger than the PC and Internet revolutions that have already changed the way we live. Sandhu, director of the UTSA Institute for Cyber Security, says UTSA is taking a leadership role in tackling three fundamental cloud technology problems: how to build and operate the cloud, how to use it profitably for diverse applications and how to keep it secure.

Sandhu, the Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Cyber Security in the College of Sciences, and Ram Krishnan, assistant professor of electrical engineering in the UTSA College of Engineering, are funded by a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve cloud security.

Did you know? Sandhu, a world-renowned cybersecurity expert, holds 30 patents, has authored more than 250 papers and been cited more than 30,000 times.

This documentary, presented by the San Antonio Film Festival, documents the experience of re-entry after incarceration. The film features Michael Gilbert, associate professor in the department of criminal justice and director of the Office of Community and Restorative Justice program at UTSA.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle

Discover resources and strategies for teaching Tejano history and culture and get a special educator's tour of the new long-term exhibit, Los Tejanos.
Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.

This annual symposium is an opportunity to discuss Texas higher education issues and trends with Texas higher education scholars, state and local government officials, students, and campus and local community members.
Downtown Campus

Join President Ricardo Romo, The Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band, students, faculty and staff to light the monument at the Main Campus entrance at the stroke of midnight.
John Peace Boulevard Entrance, Main Campus

The UTSA Alumni Association hosts this annual gala honoring the Alumna of the Year, Alumnus of the Year and the Alumnus of the Year Lifetime Achievement award winners.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa, 9800 Hyatt Resort Dr.

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After graduation, Queretaro native founded a music label recognized by SXSW

UTSA's Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA's Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA's Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.